Hi all. My name is Peg Diaz. I have been documenting life with a still camera and am currently working on my first video project. I look forward to learning from all of you and eventually giving back down the road. I am applying for a grant for partial funding of the documentary and have a question about a "letter of interest". I need to submit a letter from a broadcaster who might be interested in airing the film. Can anyone recommend the best way to do this.

Jalyn, since you work at PBS, perhaps you have a suggestion? I sent a request to the local PBS station but have not heard back.

My name is Tom Jackson. Glad to be a new member here. I produce documentaries on social justice issues. Right now in post on another one about the oil/environmental/economy issues (following "Out of Balance" www.worldoutofbalance.org). Looking for a veg-burning vehicle again, to travel with this latest doc.

Hi everyone I'm Eva ~ new to this world alittle... am about to embark on my first documentary, as a co-director for an observational feature length doc covering issues around a couple who have had just had a baby but due to their medical difficulties have been denied access. I am new to the game and already feel I am walking on eggshells!Great to learn about this place though! I think I will find most useful.

Hello,
I am Alec Sanchez, about to become a linguist major at University of California, Santa Cruz, and I am an aspiring to become documentary filmmaker.
By blogging and watching films I hope to get insight to what the world of documentary film is made of.
-alec

My name is Leon McCarron. I studied film here in England for 3 years, and decided documentary was my passion, specifically the production, I am a cameraman and one-day director. I had enrolled in the New York Film Academy for their Winter filmmaking workshop (because I wanted to learn how to shoot on film as opposed to digital which I know) but I heard so many bad reports Im now having second thoughts.
I'm moving to New York on the 20th Nov, and staying until the 15th Feb – I would love to take a short course in documentary filmmaking instead of the NYFA, or even find an internship. Anyone got any ideas or advice? Id really appreciate it, because Im kinda stuck now!

Also Im planning a documentary which I will shoot as I cycle from New York to Sydney following my study, you can check it out at www.leonmccarron.com

Welcome, Leon. Hard to know which film schools actually teach shooting on film these days. I know the School of Visual Arts has a really strong and revitalized doc program, you might check them out. They also have individual film courses in their School of Continuing Education.

Hi Doug,
Thanks for the welcome, and the tip about the School of Visual Arts. Seems great, although unfortunately Ill just miss the window of their teaching. Any other ideas for workshops this christmas? Im really up for anything that will help further my documentary practical skills/knowledge.
Also, just to say this website seems like a fantastic resource, great work!

I've decided to start a documentary about finding my birth parents in Seoul, South Korea. I am in the early stages of preproduction and was wondering if anyone has had any experience shooting in South Korea and what it's like.
Here is a link to a short trailer I've posted a few years ago on youtube. Thanks! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It_AkCBAruk&feature=channel_page

My name's Ash; I'm a British female journalist with seven years experience writing true-life stories for UK-based magazines and newspapers. Although my background's in journalism, I'm really passionate about breaking into the documentary film making industry, having recently been trained by a BBC producer and having made a documentary short.

I just wanted to ask whether anyone has any contacts or leads with Melbourne-based documentary film making companies, looking to hire someone in a research or production capacity? I'm hoping to relocate to Melbourne in early 2010 (I'm currently travelling through Australia, New Zealand and Asia).

I call myself a reporter. I have worked as a reporter for several organs previously, but even when I was not formally employed as one, i considered myself one.

I was drawn to the documentary format because it was a natural extension of what I do. To me it nothing more, nothing less than another medium of expression – and one which is very handy in the arsenal of the reporter.

Being new to the documentary format I have joined the D-word to learn and to share. I have so far made two docs and in the early planning stages of a third.

Hi all,
I'm a documentary editor and do almost everything else that's needed in a small production company in the rugged coast of Connemara in Ireland.
Just discovered the website, well done.
I'm about to go to Medimed Documentary Market, in Spain in October with a documentary I edited.. Just wondering if anybody has been to past editions and could give me any feedback and advice on how to make the best out of this event.
Thanks for your time
Best
Manuela

I signed up for the day, so was there for that panel as well. I'm actually interested in all kinds of documentaries and personal essays are interesting to me from a sociological standpoint. I however, believe that real change only happens through legislative change. Perhaps at least one can measure the change in some way... I'm really enjoying the topic dialog with Pat Aufderheide about the Honest Truths report.